This simple Fire Engine was built from instructions published in the 1954 No.5 manual I have made some modifications using extra parts not in the set. It has been constructed from mainly red and green parts from the mid 1950's. Everything was very straightforward until it came to the extending ladder.  This is operated by string mechanisms, the method works but the ladder is too heavy to remain in an upright position, I fitted a removable rod that slid through the bush wheel operating the lift and the frame. The bush wheel should be fitted with a threaded pin but this prevented the ladder unit to be turned and I left it off. Had the model been more prototypical without the body side pieces it would have worked better, a later early 1970's Fire Engine resolved the turning issue but the ladder operating had the same problems. I would imagine that because of the ladder issues, its play value would have been greatly reduced plus the frustrations in building the extending ladder unit. Another departure from the instructions was to use long bolts in place of string for the rungs on the extending ladder. I mounted the ladder on a bearing made up from a pair of 3" pulleys with ball bearings running between, this a unit I made up years ago and often use it where this size bearing is required. When it was completed I thought it looked very presentable, as are many of the models from the 1954 series of manuals, many of which I have previously constructed and can be seen on other pages.

Page created May 25 2025 Revised 19/07/2025